Motion checking means



w. e PETERS MOTION CHECKING MEANS Filed Dec. 18, 1959 fnvenior fiZZzam 6,. P3756735 53 Patented Aug. 5, 1941 MOTION CHECKING MEANS William G. Peters, Oak Park, 111., assignor to Richard Groetchen, Chicago, Ill.

Application December 18, 1939, Serial No. 309,862

4 Claims.

ment of some other part. It is one object of the invention, therefore, to provide means for accomplishing that result. It is another object to provide'a checking means which will operate to check movement in one direction but which may be moved in the reverse direction with little or no checking effect. Another object is to provide an economical device for accomplishing the effect mentioned, utilizing a mechanical and an airchecking effect.

Other objects will appear from time to time throughout the specification and the claims.

- Th invention is illustrated more or less diagrammatically in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of one form of the device;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section taken at line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a transverse section taken at line 3-3 of Figure 2 on an enlarged scale.

Like parts are designated by like characters throughout the specification and the drawing.

In the particular form here shown, the device comprises generally a frame formed of two side frame members I, 2. desired shape. As here shown, they are generally rectangular. They are joined by columns or pins 3, 3 which may be fastened to the side plates in any desired manner. As here shown, each pin is riveted at one end as at 4 to the plate 2 and at the other end is secured in place by a screw 5. The members may be provided with bosses 6, 6 about perforations l, l which form bearings for an irregularly shaped shaft 8. Freely mounted upon the shaft 8 is a hub 9 upon which is rigidly secured a gear H]. The gear and hub might, if desired, be made integral. Fixed on the shaft is a ratchet wheel H which may have adjacent its side an enlargement l2. This enlargement may or may not be made integrally with the ratchet ll.

Formed, also, on the shaft 8 is a pair of pinions l3, l3, and between them is a groove or depression M. The gear ID has positioned in it a plurality of springs l5 which, as shown, are secured to the gear by projecting portions [6 which project into the wheel and their free ends engage the ratchet H.

A driving member is formed by a pair of racks I1, I! which are arranged parallel to each other Each may be of any and spaced apart approximately the distance of the pinions I3, [3. Each rack is provided with a pair of upturned ends l8, l8, and these are secured by riveting, or otherwise, to an operating handle l9. As shown, this handle may be perforated at its free end as at 20 for connection to any desired part. 2| is an additional frame member which is secured by posts or pins 22, 22 to the frame member I. A spinner shaft 23 has one end mounted on the frame 2i as at 24 and extending outwardly beyond the frame I has a spinner or fan element 25 mounted on it. A pinion 26 is secured to the shaft 24 and meshes with a gear 21 which is secured on a shaft 28 which is supported for rotation at one end in the frame member 2| and at the other end in the frame member I. The shaft 28 also has fixed upon it a pinion 29 which meshes with the main'gear Iii.

Although there is shown an operative form of the device, it will be understood that many changes in the form, shape and arrangement of parts might be made without departing from the spirit of the invention; and it is wished that this showing be taken as, in a sense, diagrammatic.

The use and operation of this device are as follows:

The device of this invention is ordinarily used in mechanisms in which some check or restraining device is desired which will operate periodically to control or check the movement of a part or an assembly in one direction. A gum slot or other coin-controlling vending device is one example of such a use. The structure of the mechanism will be mounted with or attached to the mechanism of such a vending or coin-controlled device in such manner that the handle I9 is pulled in one direction by some part of the main mechanism or assembly; for example, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the handle l9 will be pulled to the right. When so pulled, the racks 11, engaging the pinions l3, rotate the shaft 8 and the ratchet wheel II. The spring I 5 engaging the ratchet wheel causes corresponding rotation of the gear I0 which, through the pinion 29, rotates the shaft 28, the gear 21, the pinion 26, the shaft 23 and the spinner 25. All these parts effect a checking action upon the movement of the part which is attached to the handle l9. When the racks have moved to the end of their excursion in the righthand direction, the mechanism furnishes a stop against further movement in that direction. In the reverse movement, there is ordinarily no need for a checking or braking effect, and if the handle I9 is moved back to the left, it may move sufficiently rapidly to cause the ratchet Wheel H to slip past th springs l; that is, the springs may ride over the teeth of the ratchet wheel, and when that occurs, no movement of the other parts of the train of gears and the spinner 25 will occur. Frequently, of course, some slight movement of these parts will occur even in the reverse direction but, in large part, the return movement will result in slippage of the ratchet with respect to the springs l5 and gear is and the parts which it normally drives will, therefore, receive either no reverse movement or very much less reverse movement than they would receive if this slipping did not occur.

While the mechanism is shown with the handle i9 horizontal, it may operate in any position and the mechanism of the assembly may, therefore, be mounted in almost any position.

I claim:

1. A ratchet mechanism including a shaft, a pair of pinions rigidly mounted anda member rotatably 'mounted thereon, an over-running clutch between the shaft and the member, a rack including an operating handle lying between, and guided by the pinions and supported upon the shaft, a pair of rack bars, depending downwardly from oppositesides of the handle, one in mesh with each'of the pinions on the side thereof farthest fro'm the point of engagement of the shaft 'and handle." v

2. A ratchet mechanism includinga shaft, a pair' of pinions rigidly mounted and a member rotatably'mounted thereon, an over-running clutch between the shaft and the member, a rack including anoper ating handle, lying between, and lguidedby thepinions and supported upon the 'shaft,'a pair'o-f rack bars, depending downwardly from opposite sides of the handle, one in mesh with each of the pinions on the side thereof farthest from the point of engagement of the shaft and handle, each rack bar being attached at eachend to the handle, the distance between the handleand the rack bars being such that the cooperation of handle, shaft and rack bars maintains the teeth thereon at all times in proper working relation with the pinions.

3. A ratchet mechanism including a shaft, a pair of pinions rigidly mounted and a gear rotatably mounted thereon, an over-running clutch between the shaft and the member, a rack including an operating handle lying between, and guided by the pinions and supported upon the shaft, a pair of rack bars, depending downwardly from opposite sides of the handle, one in mesh with each of the pinions on the side thereof farthest from the point of engagement of the shaft and handle, the over-running clutch including a toothed ratchet wheel on the shaft and a plurality of spring fingers adapted to engage the teeth on the ratchet, the fingers including elongated flexible members adapted to be in edge engagement with the gear, apertures in the gear and projections from one side of the spring members penetrating and rigidly held in position in the apertures in the gear.

4. A detent mechanism including a pair of spaced rigidly connected main frame members, a shaft mounted for rotation thereon, a gear rotatable on the shaft, a rack and pinion associated with the shaft and an over-running clutch assembly interposed between the shaft and the gear, a sub frame member rigidly positioned between the main frame members, there being clearance between the sub frame and one of the main frame members to permit the rack to penetrate the space between them, a jack shaft and a spinner Shaft rotatably mounted on the sub frame and the other main frame member, a gear and pinion on the jack shaft, the pinion being in mesh with the gear on the main shaft, a pinion on the spinner shaft in mesh with the gear on the jack shaft, the spinner shaft extending beyond the main frame in which it is rotatably mounted and a spinner thereon out of contact with the frame.

WILLIAM G. PETERS. 

